Water purifier with ice maker

ABSTRACT

A water purifier with an ice maker is provided that includes an ice making part having an evaporator and a circulation cooling part that circulates water stored in a cold water tank to the evaporator so that the water stored in the cold water tank is cooled by heat exchange with refrigerant flowing in the evaporator, to simultaneously make ice and cool water using a single evaporator and eliminating the need to make separate ice so as to cool water, thereby enhancing energy efficiency.

PRIORITY

This application is Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 13/388,812, which was filed in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Officeon Feb. 2, 2012, which is a National stage entry of PCT/KR10/04041,which was filed on Jun. 22, 2010, and claims priority to Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2009-0074683, which was filed in the KoreanIndustrial Property Office on Aug. 13, 2009, the content of each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a water purifier with an ice maker.

2. Description of the Related Art

A water purifier with an ice maker is a water purifier that includes afiltering part that has at least one water purifying filter to filterintroduced water and an ice making part that makes ice.

The ice making part of such a water purifier with an ice maker isprovided with an evaporator in which cold refrigerants heat-exchangedwith water and making ice flow. The evaporator provided to the waterpurifier with an ice maker according to the prior art does not make iceusing all side surfaces of the evaporator but merely makes ice usingonly one side surface. Therefore, the rest of the side surfaces otherthan one side surface of the evaporator that makes ice cannot be used,such that the energy efficiency of the water purifier with an ice makeris degraded.

Meanwhile, in the water purifier with an ice maker according to theprior art, ice made in the ice making part is dropped to a cold watertank in which water is stored so as to cool the water stored in the coldwater tank. When the water stored in the cold water tank is cooled usingthe ice made in the ice making part, however, ice is to be separatelymade so as to cool the water stored in the cold water tank. Therefore,the energy efficiency of the water purifier with an ice maker is alsodegraded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To avoid the above shortcomings of conventional systems and methods, thepresent invention provides a water purifier with an ice maker thatincludes an ice making part having an evaporator and a circulationcooling part configured to carry out circular cooling in which waterstored in a cold water tank is directly heat exchanged with arefrigerant flowing in the evaporator and returned to the cold watertank. The circulation cooling part includes the cold water tank intowhich water is stored, and a continuous flow path having two ends, withthe two ends being connected to the cold water tank. At least a part ofthe flow path contacts a part of the evaporator so that the waterflowing in the flow path is cooled by direct heat exchange with therefrigerant flowing in the evaporator through the flow path and theevaporator. The cooled water returns to the cold water tank through theflow path, and the portion of the evaporator that comes into contactwith the flow path is used to cool water flowing in the flow path, andthe portion of the evaporator that does not come into contact with theflow path is used to make ice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a waterpurifier with an ice maker according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a water purifier with anice maker according to the present invention, that is, a plan viewshowing a configuration in which a flow pipe passes over an evaporatorof an ice making part;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation of an embodiment of a waterpurifier with an ice maker according to the present invention, that is,the diagram showing ice making; and

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an operation of an embodiment of a waterpurifier with an ice maker according to the present invention, thediagram showing ice dropping.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, various embodiments according to the present invention willbe described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In thefollowing description of the present invention, a detailed descriptionof known functions and configuration incorporated herein are omitted toavoid making the subject matter of the present invention unclear.

In order to help understand the features described above of the presentinvention, hereinafter, a water purifier with an ice maker will bedescribed in detail with reference to embodiments of the presentinvention.

Hereinafter, although the following embodiments will be described on thebasis of examples that are the most suitable for understanding thetechnical features of the present invention, the present invention isnot limited to the embodiments and it is exemplified that the presentinvention may be achieved by the embodiments. Therefore, the presentinvention may be modified from the following embodiments in various wayswithin the scope of the present invention and it should be understoodthat the modified embodiments are included in the scope of the presentinvention. Further, in the reference numerals provided in theaccompanying drawings to help understand the following embodiments, thesame or extending reference numerals indicate related components amongthe components that have the same function in each embodiment.

The embodiments according to the present invention are basicallyconfigured such that water stored in a cold water tank is cooled bycirculating the water stored in the cold water tank from the cold watertank to an evaporator. As shown in FIG. 1, a water purifier with an icemaker 100 according to the present invention may be configured toinclude an ice making part 200 and a circulation cooling part 300.

The ice making part 200 has an evaporator 210 and makes ice I. The icemaking part 200 may include the evaporator 210, an ice making member220, a tray member 230, and an ice storage compartment 240, as shown inFIG. 1.

The evaporator 210 is connected to a refrigerating system (not shown)and in which refrigerants may flow, as shown in FIG. 1. In theevaporator 210, cold refrigerants may flow at the time of ice making andhot refrigerants may flow at the time of ice dropping to be describedbelow.

A plurality of ice making members 220 may be connected to the evaporator210 as shown in FIG. 1, wherein refrigerants may flow therein similar tothe evaporator 210. In the ice making member 220, cold refrigerants mayflow at the time of ice making and hot refrigerants may flow at the timeof ice dropping, similar to the evaporator 210. The cold refrigerantsflowing in the ice making member 220 may be heat-exchanged with thewater provided to the tray member 230 to make ice I in the ice makingmember 220 to be described below. In addition, when the making of theice I is completed in the ice making member 220, the hot refrigerantsflowing in the ice making member 220 may flow in the ice making member220 to allow the ice I made in the ice making member 220 to be detachedfrom the ice making member 220.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, water is provided to the tray member 230 andthe ice making member 220 is sunk into the water provided to the traymember 230 to make the ice I. In other words, when the ice making member220 is sunk into the tray member 230 in which water is provided, the iceI may be made in the ice making member 220 by the heat exchange betweenthe cold refrigerants flowing in the ice making member 220 and waterneighboring the ice making member 220.

Meanwhile, the tray member 230 may be configured of a main tray member230 a and a sub tray member 230 b connected to the main tray member 230a, as shown in FIG. 1. When the tray member 230 rotates for ice making,water may be provided to the main tray member 230 a and the ice makingmember 220 may be sunk into the water provided to the main tray member230 a. When the tray member 230 rotates for ice dropping, the water inthe main tray member 230 a moves to the sub tray member 230 b and theice I made in the ice making member 220 is detached and dropped, suchthat the sub tray member 230 b may guide the ice I to the ice storagecompartment 240. However, the configuration of the tray member 230 isnot limited to the embodiment, and any configuration thereof in whichwater is provided and the ice making member 220 is sunk into the waterto make the ice I may also be used.

In the embodiment, it is configured such that water is supplied from awater purifying tank 400 in which water filtered by passing through oneor more water purifying filter (not shown) is stored to the tray member230. In other words, in the embodiment, it is configured such that wateris supplied from the water purifying tank 400 to the main tray member230 a of the tray member 230 so that the water is put in the main traymember 230 a. However, the configuration in which water is supplied andput in the tray member 230 or the main tray member 230 a of the traymember 230 is not limited to the configuration in which water issupplied to the tray member 230 or the main tray member 230 a of thetray member 230 from the water purifying tank 400 as shown in theembodiment. As a result, any configuration in which water is suppliedand put in the tray member 230 or the main tray member 230 a of the traymember 230 may be used, such as a configuration in which water issupplied and put in the tray member 230 or the main tray member 230 a ofthe tray member 230 from a cold water tank 310. In the case of theconfiguration in which water is supplied and put in the tray member 230or the main tray member 230 a of the tray member 230 from a cold watertank 310, the cold water is provided to the tray member 230 or the maintray member 230 a of the tray member 230. As a result, the temperatureneeds to be slightly lowered so as to make ice I in the ice makingmember 220 so that the ice I can be easily made and thus energy can besaved to that extent.

The ice I made in the ice making member 220 may be stored in the icestorage compartment 240, as shown in FIG. 1. To this end, the icestorage compartment 240 may be positioned under the ice making member220 so that the ice I made in the ice making member 220 is dropped to bestored in the ice storage compartment 240, as shown in the figure.

The circulation cooling part 300 may be configured such that the waterstored in the cold water tank 310 is circulated to the evaporator 210 sothat the water stored in the cold water tank 310 is cooled by beingheat-exchanged with the refrigerants flowing in the evaporator 210. Tothis end, the circulation cooling part 300 may include the cold watertank 310, a pump 320, and a flow pipe 330, as shown in FIG. 1.

The cold water tank 310 may be introduced and stored with water, asshown in FIG. 1. In the figure, the cold water tank 310 may receive andstore water from the water purifying tank 400 that stores water filteredby passing through one or more water purifying filter (not shown).However, the configuration in which water is introduced and stored inthe cold water tank 310 is not limited to the embodiment and anyconfiguration in which water can be introduced and stored in the coldwater tank 310 may be used.

The pump 320 may be connected to the cold water tank 310, as shown inFIG. 1. Therefore, the water stored in the cold water tank 310 may beintroduced into the flow pipe 330 positioned at a higher position thanthe cold water tank 310 to be flowed.

One side of the flow pipe 330 may be connected to the pump 320, as shownin FIG. 1. The flow pipe 330 may pass the evaporator 210 of the icemaking part 200, while being in contact with the evaporator 210, asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Further, the other side of the flow pipe 330 maybe connected to the cold water tank 310. Therefore, the water introducedand stored in the cold water tank 310 may be introduced into the flowpipe 330 by the pump 320, and the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 maybe cooled, while being heat-exchanged with the cold refrigerants flowingin the evaporator 210 at a portion where the flow pipe 330 passes theevaporator 210, while being in contact therewith. The water cooled bybeing heat-exchanged with the cold refrigerant flowing in the evaporator210 may be returned to the cold water tank 310 connected to the otherside of the flow pipe 330. As described above, the water stored in thecold water tank 310 may be cooled, while being circulated from the coldwater tank 310 to the evaporator 210.

Meanwhile, a valve 340 may be provided on the flow pipe 330, as shown inFIG. 1. The valve 340 provided on the flow pipe 330 may prevent waterfrom flowing in the flow pipe 330 when hot refrigerants flow in theevaporator 210 and the ice making member 220 so as to drop the ice Imade in the ice making member 220 of the ice making part 200. In otherwords, the valve 340 may be opened to allow water to flow in the flowpipe 330 at the time of ice making, and the valve 340 may be closed toprevent water from flowing in the flow pipe 330 at the time of icedropping.

A support plate 331 may be provided on the evaporator 210, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2. The flow pipe 330 may be provided on the support plate331 to have a zigzag shape, as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, the flow pipe330 may pass the evaporation 210, while being in contact with theevaporator 210, and the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 can be cooledas the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 is heat-exchanged with thecold refrigerants flowing in the evaporator 210. However, theconfiguration in which the flow pipe 330 passes the evaporator 210,while being in contact therewith, so that the water flowing in the flowpipe 330 can be cooled as the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 isheat-exchanged with the cold refrigerants flowing in the evaporator 210is not limited to the embodiment. Any configuration in which the waterflowing in the flow pipe 330 can be cooled as the water flowing in theflow pipe 330 is heat-exchanged with the cold refrigerants flowing inthe evaporator 210 may be used.

Meanwhile, the support plate 331 may be made of a material having highthermal conductivity for a heat exchange between the water flowing inthe flow pipe 330 and the cold refrigerant flowing in the evaporator210. The support plate 331 may be made of a material having rigiditycapable of supporting the flow pipe 330 provided thereon. The supportplate 331 is not specially limited but any material having high thermalconductivity and rigidity capable of supporting the flow pipe 330 may beused.

Hereinafter, an operation of an embodiment of a water purifier with anice maker 100 according to the present invention will be described withreference to FIGS. 3 and 4. At the time of ice making, the tray member230 rotates to the position as shown in FIG. 3. Then, water is put inthe main tray member 230 a by supplying water to the main tray member230 a from the water purifying tank 400. As shown in the figure, ifwater is provided to the main tray member 230 a, the ice making member220 may be sunk into the water put in the main tray member 230 a. Asdescribed above, if the refrigerating system (not shown) is operated ina state in which the ice making member 220 is sunk into the water put inthe main tray member 230 a, the cold refrigerants flow in theevaporation 210 and the ice making member 220. Therefore, a heatexchange is performed between the cold refrigerants flowing in the icemaking member 220 and the water put in the tray member 230 in which theice making member 220 is sunk, such that ice I is made in the ice makingmember 220 as shown in the figure.

At the time of the ice making as described above, the valve 340 providedon the flow pipe 330 is opened. Therefore, the water stored in the coldwater tank 310 introduced into one side of the flow pipe 330 and flowsin the flow pipe 330 due to the driving of the pump 320. Meanwhile, theflow pipe 330 passes the evaporator 210, while being in contacttherewith, as shown in the figure. As described above, the heat exchangeis performed between the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 and the coldrefrigerants flowing the evaporator 210 in the portion in which the flowpipe 330 passes the evaporator 210, while being in contact therewith,such that the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 is cooled. The waterflowing the flow pipe 330 that is cooled by being heat-exchanged withthe cold refrigerants flowing in the evaporator 210 is returned to thecold water tank 310 connected to the other side of the flow pipe 330 asshown in the figure. The water stored in the cold water tank 310 iscooled, while being circulated from the cold water tank 310 to theevaporator 210, such that the water stored in the cold water tank 310may be cooled.

Meanwhile, at the time of ice dropping, the making of ice I is completedin the ice making member 220, as shown in FIG. 4. When the generation ofice I is completed as described above, the tray member 230 rotates tothe position as shown in the figure. In this case, the water put in themain tray member 230 a moves to the sub tray member 230 b. After therotation of the tray member 230, the hot refrigerants flow in theevaporator 210 and the ice making member 220. As described above, if thehot refrigerants flow in the evaporator 210 and the ice making member220, the ice I made in the ice making member 220 is detached from theice making member 220 to be dropped as shown in the figure. That is, icedropping occurs. The ice storage compartment 240 is provided under theice making member 220 as shown in the figure, such that the ice Idetached and dropped from the ice making member 220 is dropped to theice storage compartment 240 to be stored.

Meanwhile, as described above, the hot refrigerants flow in theevaporator 210 and the ice making member 220 at the time of icedropping, such that the water flowing in the flow pipe 330 cannot becooled. Therefore, the valve 340 provided on the flow pipe 330 is closedto prevent water from being introduced into and flowing in the flow pipe330.

As set forth above, according to exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the water purifier with an ice maker 100 is used, it ispossible to simultaneously make ice and cool water using a singleevaporator. Therefore, there is no need to make separate ice so as tocool water. In addition, there is no need to make separate ice, therebymaking it possible to enhance the energy efficiency of the waterpurifier with an ice maker.

The water purifier with an ice maker as described above is not limitedto the above-mentioned embodiments. It is noted that the embodiments canbe entirely or partially combined so that various modifications thereofcan be made.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A water purifier with an ice maker, comprising:an ice making part having an evaporator; and a circulation cooling partconfigured to carry out circular cooling in which water stored in a coldwater tank is directly heat exchanged with a refrigerant flowing in theevaporator and returned to the cold water tank, wherein the circulationcooling part includes the cold water tank into which water is stored,and a continuous flow path having two ends, the two ends being directlyconnected to the cold water tank, wherein at least a part of the flowpath contacts a part of the evaporator so that the water flowing in theflow path is cooled by direct heat exchange with the refrigerant flowingin the evaporator through the flow path and the evaporator, wherein thecooled water returns to the cold water tank through the flow path, andwherein a portion of the evaporator which comes into contact with theflow path is used to cool water flowing in the flow path, and a portionof the evaporator which does not come into contact with the flow path isused to make ice.
 2. The water purifier with the ice maker of claim 1,wherein the ice making part comprises: the evaporator in which therefrigerant flows; a plurality of ice making members connected to theevaporator and in which the refrigerant flows to make the ice; and anice storage compartment in which the ice made by the ice making memberis stored.
 3. The water purifier with the ice maker of claim 2, whereinthe ice making part further includes a tray member in which water isprovided and the plurality of ice making members are sunk into the waterto make ice.
 4. The water purifier with the ice maker of claim 3,wherein the tray member is supplied with water from a water purifyingtank in which water is stored.
 5. The water purifier with the ice makerof claim 3, wherein the tray member is supplied with the water stored inthe cold water tank.
 6. The water purifier with the ice maker of claim3, wherein the tray member includes a main tray member and a sub traymember connected to the main tray member.
 7. The water purifier with theice maker of claim 1, wherein the circulation cooling part includes apump connected to the cold water tank and the flow path includes a flowpipe.
 8. The water purifier with the ice maker of claim 7, wherein avalve is provided on the flow pipe to prevent water from flowing whenhot refrigerant flows in the evaporator and at least one ice makingmember included in the ice making part, so as to drop the ice made bythe at least one ice making member included in the ice making part. 9.The water purifier with the ice maker of claim 7, wherein a supportplate is provided on the evaporator and the flow pipe is provided on thesupport plate.
 10. The water purifier with the ice maker of claim 9,wherein the flow pipe is formed on the support plate to have a zigzagshape.